When it comes to daydreams, winning a lottery jackpot tends to conjure up the most elaborate and extravagance-filled scenarios.

People hope they'll win big and abscond to a newly purchased island. And often, the first of many questions one tends to ask: can I get my prize money anonymously?

When lottery jackpots balloon, people often ask if they could claim their winnings anonymously to avoid the pitfalls of coming into a massive amount of money. But the answer in New Jersey is, quite simply, no.

"The lottery is a very public game," said James Carey, acting director of the state lottery commission. "It is an arm of the state of New Jersey. We’re dealing with public money. And the public has the right to know who’s getting the money."

The New Jersey Lottery commission can release the name, town and county of a winner through a press release, according to its rules. And if the commission doesn't, the average citizen can get a winner's identity through a public records request.

Many winners, including a New Hampshire woman who sued to stay anonymous, have also attempted to claim a jackpot through a trust or a newly formed company. Jason Kurland, a lawyer who specializes in representing lottery winners, scuttles that idea.

"It is possible to claim the jackpot in a trust or other entity, but the NJ Lottery Commission will still release the name of the actual winner," said Kurland, the self-proclaimed "Lottery Lawyer."

Carey confirmed this, saying that the lottery commission will pay a jackpot to a trust or LLC, but will still require the names of specific beneficiaries, including the winner.

"The lottery is required to identify who’s getting paid money so we can withhold for taxes and confirm they don’t have any back-taxes," Carey said.

In order to check that a winner does not owe back taxes, child support arrearages, public assistance over-payments or student loans, a winner's name must be released, Carey said.

And, if you're a winner and thought of claiming a jackpot and then withdrawing from public life, bad news: you'll have to show up for a very public press conference as well. And you can't send a representative in your stead. Such are the rules for Mega Millions and Powerball, Carey said.

"We generally want them to come to a press conference," he said. "It’s important for the integrity and transparency to see who the winners are. We urge them to participate."

Only six states, Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina, allow winners to remain anonymous.

Juan Mendez-Galarza of Paterson bought a $1 million winning Powerball ticket at W & R Mini Market & Deli on Nagle Street in Paterson. Galarza is shown at the store, finding out that he is a winner. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com